Caucus 2012 Guide: When, Where, How Apple Valley Residents Can Participate in Minnesota Caucuses on Tuesday

Minnesota is gearing up for ; it's one of three states—Colorado and Missouri are the others—with either a caucus or primary this Tuesday.

Rep. Tara Mack (R-District 37A) and Sen. Chris Gerlach (R-District 37), both of Apple Valley, said they encourage residents of all political parties to participate in their caucuses.

"I look forward to it," Mack said. It's a "great time to have local residents come out and share their viewpoints."

Apple Valley Caucus Sites

Minnesota’s major political parties—DFL, Independence and Republican—have announced the sites of their respective precinct caucuses. All caucuses begin at 7 p.m. Feb. 7.

Caucus sites for Apple Valley residents include:

• Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL)—All Apple Valley precincts will caucus at , 14450 Hayes Rd., Apple Valley. For more information about the Senate District 37 DFL, click here.

• Green Party—Apple Valley Green Party members will be able to caucus at Eastview Elementary, 18060 Ipava Ave., Lakeville. For more information from the Green Party, click here.

• Independence—A caucus for the entire Second Congressional District, which includes all of Apple Valley will be hosted at Northview Elementary School, 965 Diffley Rd., Eagan. For more information from the Independence Party, click here.

• Republican (GOP)—Apple Valley residents who live in state House District 37A (Apple Valley precincts 1-6 and 14-16) will caucus at , 6200 140th St. W., Apple Valley. Residents who live in state House District 37B (Apple Valley precincts 7-13) will caucus at Rosemount High School, 3335 142nd St. W., Rosemount. For more information about the Senate District 37 GOP, click here.

Additional caucus information—including a caucus finder by home address—can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State website by clicking here.

In Minnesota, the DFL, Independence and Republican parties are considered major parties. For the definitions of major and minor political parties in Minnesota, click here.

What's a Caucus?

A caucus helps a political party gain consensus as to how voters have aligned their political and candidate preferences.

But at a caucus, there’s more going on than just candidate selection. Participants sometimes select county committee chairs that go to a state—and sometimes national—convention.

What distinguishes a caucus from a primary is that at a primary, voters don’t have to be present at one particular location at a specific time. For a primary, voters just go to their polling place and cast a vote, the same as they would do at a general election.

For a caucus, you have to be physically present at your designated caucus site, register, show your party affiliation and then participate in the process. Attendees participate directly.

To take part in a caucus, you must be eligible to vote in the 2012 general election and live in the precinct.

Each party has its own rules and guidelines it follows.

For a state-by-state calendar of this year’s presidential primaries and caucuses, click here.

Will you be attending a caucus on Tuesday? Tell us in the comments section below.